Wednesday, May 25: Young and middle-aged adults bore the brunt of influenza in the UK this winter with more than 70 per cent of fatal cases hitting this age group, according to figures published by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) in their annual flu report today.

Compared with other age groups, those aged between 15 and 64 years were also more likely to have visited their doctors with flu-like illness and their rates of admission to hospital were higher.

Across all age groups, 602 people in the UK were reported to the HPA as having died with a confirmed influenza infection during the 2010/11 season.

More than 70 per cent of those fatal cases – 415 – were in young and middle-aged people aged 15-64 years. Around 20 per cent of confirmed deaths – 122 – were in the over 64s.

Across all age groups, almost 70 per cent (373 out of 555) of those who died this season were in a clinical ‘at risk’ group for vaccination. Information on vaccination history was available for just over half of the fatal cases and almost 75 per cent (229 out of 307) had not received the flu vaccine this year.

Among children, there were 25 reported deaths in those aged five to 14 years, 16 in children aged between one and four and nine in children less than a year old.

To date, nine pregnant women are reported to have died from flu this season.

Professor John Watson, head of the respiratory diseases department at the HPA, said: “The information published in our annual flu report confirms that seasonal flu activity in 2010/11 was higher than last winter and that H1N1 ‘swine’ flu was the dominant strain. Sadly, a small proportion of flu cases resulted in serious illness and death, predominantly in young and middle-aged adults.

“Each year hundreds of thousands of people catch flu and the majority will make a full recovery. Traditionally the elderly have been more seriously affected by winter flu but the picture is beginning to change as we are now seeing a higher proportion of young and middle-aged people taken seriously ill.”

In England, just 50 per cent of adults under 65 who were in an ‘at risk’ group and eligible for

GPs and midwifes – to encourage those at risk to take up the offer vaccination. It is the best way to protect against flu.”

Justin McCracken, HPA’s chief executive, said: “Throughout the flu season, the HPA publishes a weekly flu report which provides vital information to front line clinicians and the Department of Health to enable them to make the best decisions on how to prevent, treat and manage flu over the course of a season.

“This national report of the 2010/11 season will help public health experts target and refine their plans for next winter, ultimately helping to prevent serious illness and deaths, particularly among those in ‘at risk’ groups. It’s clear from this report that a focus on increasing vaccine uptake is a priority for the year ahead.”